1966 Vauxhall XVR

In a bid to improve Vauxhall’s sporting image the design center in Luton, England produced the Xperimental Vauxhall Research (VXR) prototype.

Wayne Cherry from GM was sent to Vauxhall in 1965. As a design director he was responsible to make the VXR showcar in just five months. David Jones was responsible for styling the car.

The result was a low-slung two-seater that took styling cues from the Corvette and was only 40 inches high. It had massive gullwing doors and a split wraparound front window that was integrated into the doors.

Cherry said “Thee cars were built, one in steel and two in glassfibre. The metal car was the one built for Geneva. Its bodywork was shaped by Motor Panels in Coventry, working from a solid glassfibre model that we painted a dark gloss. The show car was finished in a very dark green, like a British Racing Green.”

After the show, the metal car was registered HXD929D and was shown to the press on Vauxhall’s own test track.

The fiberglass cars were only mockups. It is one of these that survives after being discovered in the roof of the Vauxhall styling studio. The completely functional Geneva show car was destroyed.

In Detail

type	Concept / Prototype Car
released at	1966 Geneva Show
body stylist	David Jones
production	3
engine	VX4/90 Inline-4
valvetrain	OHV
fuel feed	Twin Carburettors
displacement	1594 cc / 97.27 in³
power	52.9 kw / 71 bhp
specific output	44.54 bhp per litre
transmission	4-Speed Manual